Electrical connector



y 11, 1965 w. F. HENNESSEY, JR 3,183,468

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 27, 1960 I N V EN T OR.

BY WALTER F. HENNESSEY, Jr.

ATTORNS y 11, 1965 w. F. HENNESSEY, JR 3,183,468

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR WALTER F. HENNESSEY Jr.

y 1965 w. F. HENNESSEY, JR 3,183,468

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 27. 1960 \illllmllollml4ll/ o o 0 o o o e mun |II III INVEN TOR. WALTER F. HENNESSEY, Jr. BY

ATTO

May 11, 1965 W. F. HENNESSEY, JR

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 27, 1960 w ASK lwcm,

um V jam 7/ 39 0 w 3 Ru all; Y\\\\\\\ INVENTOR WALTER F. HENNESSEY, Jr. 1.?

ATTORNZS United States Patent 3,183,468 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Walter F. Hennessey, Jr., Sidney, N.Y., assignor to The Bendix Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 27, 196i), Ser. No. 25,043 34 Claims. (Cl. 339-45) This invention relates to a separable connector, and particularly relates to a separable electrical connector. The connector of the illustrative embodiment is particularly adapted for use in, although not restricted to, applications wherein the respective parts are mounted upon bodies which are selectively retained together and separated from each other. One use for which the connector is particularly well adapted is the rapid separation of the connector parts, which are connected, respectively, to a gantry and to a missile at a missile-launching pad. In such applica tion, the connector of the invention automatically operates to separate the parts thereof as the missile begins to rise.

The invention has among its objects the provision of a novel separable connector.

The invention has among its objects the provision of a novel separable electrical connector.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of a separable electrical connector having the two main parts thereof adapted to be connected to bodies which are selectively held together and released from each other.

Still a further object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved separable electrical connector in which the parts thereof are initially moved a short distance in a direction generally in the plane of or transverse to their mating faces whereby to disconnect latching means between such parts, following which the electrical contacts carried by the respective parts are automatically separated from each other.

The above and further objects and novel features of the invention will more fully appear from the following description when the same is read in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views- FIG. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic view in side elevation of a missile erected on its launching pad and of a portion of a gantry for servicing such missile;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view in side elevation of an illustrative separable electrical connector made in accordance with the invention, the electrical connector permitting the supplying of the missile of FIG. 1 with electrical power and signals from the gantry, the electrical connector shown being turned somewhat into a vertical position from its tipped position in FIG. 1, certain of the parts being shown in vertical section;

FIG. 3 is a view in end elevation of the outer part of the illustrative electrical connector, the view being taken in the direction from left to right in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view in plan of the connector shown in FIG. 2, the outer and inner parts of the electrical connector being shown slightly separated, certain of the parts of the connector being broken away for clarity of illustration, others of the parts being shown in generally horizontal section;

FIG. 5 is a view in end elevation of the outer connector part, such view being taken in the direction from the inner end of the part toward the outer end thereof;

FIG. 6 is a view in end elevation of the inner connector part, such view being taken in the direction from the outer surface thereof toward the inner end thereof;

FIG. 7 (Sheet 2) is a view in transverse section through Bli ht :8 Federated l t lay ll,

the inner connector part, such section being taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view in section through the outer connector part, the section being taken along the line 88 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 9 is a view in longitudinal section through the inner connector part, the section being taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 6.

The embodiment of the separable electrical connector shown is particularly adapted for use in applications wherein two bodies are selectively held together or disconnected from each other, and there is an electrical circuit which extends from one body to the other which is broken when the two bodies are separated from each other. Large missiles, launched from a launching pad, present a need for such separable connector, since the missile has one or more mechanisms which is supplied with power and/ or signals while it remains on the launching pad. It is desirable that separable electrical connectors for the above application, as well as for various other uses, shall incorporate a mechanism which strongly and surely thrusts the two connector parts away from each other, thereby to insure their clean separation. It is also desirable that the two connector parts shall be quickly and easily coupled together, and that they be separated by the motion of one part relative to the other in a direction generally in the plane of the interface between the parts. The illustrative electrical connector fulfills all such requirements satisfactorily, and fulfills the above-stated objects of the invention by novel combinations of elements to be described.

In FIG. 1 there is somewhat generally shown a large missile to erect upon a launching pad 11.. A part of a gantry crane servicing the missile is shown at 12, such crane having a pivotally mounted arm 13 thereon which extends toward the nose cone 14 of the missile. A separable electrical connector, generally designated 15, has a first, outer portion thereof connected to the free end of arm 13 and a second, inner portion thereof secured to nose cone 14. An electrical cable 16 extending from the gantry crane to the outer part of the electrical connector encloses conductors forming portions of power-supplying and signaling circuits for the missile. The connector 15 is of such construction that it maintains secure electrical contact for the various circuits extending therethrough until the missile has begun to rise, following which the parts of the connector are automatically forcefully separated from each other to free the missile for fiight.

The first or outer part of the electrical connector 15 is generaly designated 21; the second or inner part of the connector is generally designated 19. As shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 9, connector part 19 has a central outer surface which is mounted flush with the outer surface of the skin 20 of the nose cone 114.- Such outer surface of connector part 19 is curved similarly to skin 26, so as to provide the nose cone with a substantially smooth, unbroken outer surface. Connector part 19, to be more fully described below, mounts a plurality of socket contacts therein extending generally normal to the outer surface of the skin of the nose cone. The outer connector part 21 carries a plurality of contact pins adapted to mate with the socket contacts of connector part 19. The construction of the electrical connector of the invention is such that an outer frame portion of connector 1-5 is first latched to connector part 19. Following this, in the embodiment shown, the contact pins of the outer connector part are advanced into engagement with the socket contacts of connector part 19. The latching means between connector parts is of such construction as to permit the parts to be unlatched by motion therebetween which is generally in the plane of the interface between the par-ts and transversely of the axes of the pin and socket contacts. The outer connector part 21 is so constructed that the contact pins carried thereby remain in alignment with the socket contacts of part 19 until the un'latching operation has been completed. Thereupon power-storing means such as springs automatically function to withdraw the contact pins from the sockets to complete the separation of the connector parts.

The construction of the outer connector part 21 is shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 8. As there shown, connector part 21 has an outer generally rectangular casing 29 within the inner (lower as shown in FIG. 8) end of which is telescoped a shallower inner housing 30. Housing parts 29 and 30 are secured together by four elongated studs 45, the inner threaded end of each stud being threaded'ly connected at 46 to the outer edge of member 30. The upper smooth portions of studs 45 inwardly of the heads thereof are slidably mounted in bores in housing portion 29 as shown most clearly in FIG. 4. A coil compression spring 47 is disposed about each of studs 45 between housing parts 29 and 30 so as constantly to urge such housing parts away from each other.

' Depending from each of the side edges of housing part 30 are two hook members 35 having shallow seats 36 disposed in the same direction. Hook members 35 are designed to be engaged with cross pins 37 on connector part 19 so as to lock connector part 21 in alignment with connector part 19 and also to latch such two parts together.

Means is provided for tightening the parts together and for-advancing the contact pins of connector part 21 into the contact sockets of connector part 19, after the parts have been latched together; Such means is in the form of two parallel levers 39, one mounted on each side of connector part 21, the free ends of the levers being connected by a cross handle 40. Levers 39 are pivotally mounted upon pins 51 which extend through upstanding parallel ears on longitudinally-extending members 49. Member 49 are connected to the upper ends of the above-described studs 45 by having their ends disposed beneath the heads on such studs. The inner ends of levers 39 are in the form of identical earns 50 which extend about pivot pins 51. It will be seen that when the levers 39 are in the position shown in FIG. 8, wherein the 'low sides of cams 50 confront the upper edge 52 of housing part 29, the housing part 30 is fully extended within part 29. When, however, levers 39 are turned in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 8 into the position shown in FIG. 2, the high points of cams 50 engage the upper surface 52 of the side edges of housing parts 29, whereby to pull the studs 45 and housing part 30 upwardly with respect to housing part 29, or, in other words, to pull the housing part 29 inwardly with respect to housing part 30, the latter part then being in contact with the outer surface of the nose cone and of the connector part 19.

Mounted within housing part 29 and mounted for limited longitudinal movement with respect thereto is an inner shell 41. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, two pins 25 project horizontally from each side of shell 41. Pins 25 are accurately and slidably received within the horizontallyextending slots 24 in housing part 29. Thus housing part 29 may move downwardly with respect to shell 41 (FIG. 2) or (FIG. 8) from right to left with respect to shell 41. Such freedom of motion of the housing with respect to the shell allows the hooks 3 to be unlatched from pins 37 while the contact pins on connector part 21 remain in engagement with the contact sockets on connector part 19.

9 Shell 41 carries a first or outer electrically insulating insert 42 which is fixed with respect to the shell by locking plates 53 on the opposite sides of a cover 54, to be described; insert 42 accurately locates the contact pins both laterally and longitudinally. Slidab-ly mounted within the inner end of shell 41 is a second or inner insert 44 which serves to sheath the outer ends of the contact pins when connector part 21 is in its separated, inoperative position as shown in FIG. 8. Insert 42 has a first outer portion 56 which is retained in shell 41 by engaging a shoulder or ledge 57 on the shell. Insert 42 has a second inner portion 59 which is secured to member 56 by a plurality of spaced bolts 71. Insert 44 is reciprocable along the inner side wall of shell 41, the insert being prevented from escape from the shell 41 by engagement between a flange 62 on the insert and an inwardly directed flange 61 on the inner end of the shell. Insert 44 is constantly urged into the outer position thereof shown in FIG. 8 by a plurality of coil compression springs 64, the outer ends of which are located in spring seats 65 in insert part 59, and the inner ends of which are disposed in spring seats 66 in insert 44. Insert 44 is sealed to'the inner side wall of shell 41 by means of an O-ring 67 disposed in a groove in the edge of insert 44 outwardly of the outer edge portion '62 of the flange on the insert. Inserts'42 and 44 are shown supporting and guiding a plurality of large contact pins 69, which may be interposed in power circuits extending into nose cone 14, a plurality of smaller pins 69', and a plurality of small contact pins 70, which may be interposed in signal circuits extending into the nose cone. Each of the contact pins is retained from movement longitudinally thereof by a shoulder thereon,

designated 72 in FIG. 8, which is received in a seat in insert 42 and which abuts the lower surface of plate 56. The lower or free ends of contact pins 69 and 69 are slidably mounted in passages 75 and 75' in insert 44. The small contact pins 70 are similarly mounted in passages in insert 44. Insert 44 has an O-ring 74 disposed and retained within a groove which extends about the bottom edge of such insert; O-ring 74 seals insert 44, and thus housing 41, to the other connector part 19 when the two connector parts are in mating engagement.

The connector part 19 has a shell 79, which is designed to be secured to the skin of the nose cone 14 inthe rnanner shown in FIG. 9, by having a peripheral flange 30 thereon secured to such skin as by screws. The shell 79 carries an upper electric-ally insulating insert 81 and a lower electrically insulating insert 82, the inserts being retained in the shell by being pulled inwardly against a flange 8-9 on the shell 79 by screws 91 threaded into elongated nuts 96' fastened to insert 81 as shown in FIG. 7. Inserts 81 and 82 carry a plurality of socket contacts 84 and 84 which receive contact pins 69 and 69', respectively, the contact sockets being retained against longitudinal movement by having shoulders 85 thereon fitting i-n recesses between the inserts 81 and S2. 7 The contact 7 sockets are sealed to insert 8 1 by 0-1ings 86' disposed in peripheral grooves in shoulders 85. Insert 81 is sealed to shell 79 by an O-ring 87 which is disposed in a seat about the lower outer edge of insert 81 and which has sealing engagement with the inwardly directed flange, 89 on the shell.

The inserts 81 and 82 mount a plurality of combined socket and switch mechanisms 92 which are designed to receive and cooperate with the contact pins 70 of the connector part 21. The lower part 94 of mechanism 92 includes a contact pin 97 urged toward its upper, open position by a coil spring 93, and a fixed lower socket contact 97. The upper part of mechanism 92 contains a socket receiving end making electrical contact with the lower portion of contact pins 70. The lower end of each of pins 70 is formed as an elongated central smaller diametered part 99. which passes freely through a passage 101 in insert 81 into the upper, hollow contact socket portion N2 of mechanism 92 and depresses the upper contact thereof to circuit-closed position when the connector parts 21 and 19 are in mating engagement. The described arrangement allows the circuits in which contact pins 70 and socket mechanisms 92 are interposed to be opened, upon the beginning of separation of the connector parts, before the circuits through pins 69 and 69' and sockets 84 and 84 are broken.

In order to assure the alignment of the two inserts of the respective connector parts before the contacts carried thereby are operatively engaged, the inserts are preferably provided with confronting sockets and short aligning pins. The sockets are shown at 9% in FIGS. 6 and 7, being transveresly aligned at the longitudinal center of insert 81. Insert 44 has two similarly positioned short pins 93 projecting from its inner face. Pins 93 extend only a short distance outwardly from insert 44, so that the described initial assembly or latching of the two connector parts in a direction generally across the face of the fixed connector part is not substantially disturbed.

The connector is completed by a cover 54 on connector part 2-1, and by a cable clamp 55 affixed to the frame position 4d of such part. The above-mentioned insert locking plates 53 are welded to the opposite inner side surfaces of the cover, and hold the insert member 55 firmly downwardly against shoulder 57 on frame part 41. The cover protects the junctions between the wires of the cable and the contact pins of connector part 21. The cable clamp relieves such joints from undesirable tension as the connector parts are separated.

The above described separable connector functions as follows: The connector parts 21 and 19 are connected by first swinging arms or levers 39 into the position of FIG. 8, so that lower frame part is thrust outwardly of main frame part 29, as shown in FIG. 8, and insert 44 is thrust downwardly or outwardly to sheath the lower ends of contact pins 69, 69, and 7t Connector part 21 is brought to a position slightly above and somewhat to the left of connector part 19 (FIG. 9), and is then slid downwardly and to the right, so that hooks enter slots 104 in shell 79. Upon further sliding travel of part 2d to the right, the lower ends of hooks 35 will lie beneath cross pins 37 on shell 79, the vertical left hand boundaries 33 of the seats 36 on the hooks substantially abutting pins 37. Alignment of inserts 44 and 31, so that the pins and sockets thereof, respectively, will mate when the pins are advanced, is assured by the reception of the short aligning pins 93 in sockets 99, as above described. In such initially aligned position of connector parts 19 and 2d, the confronting faces of inserts and 81 are in contact, but the contact pins on part 21 remain retracted within insert 44.

The levers 3% may now be swung clockwise from the position of FIG. 8 to that of FIG. 2 to thrust the contact pins on connector part Z1 into mating engagement with the contact sockets of part 19. Thus the progressive turning of cams 5%) causes hooks 35 to pull against cross pins 37 while frame parts 29 and 41, which are connected by pins 25, are moved with insert 42 and the contact pins toward connector part 19 against the resistance of springs 47' and 64. This action in turn thrusts insert dd more strongly against insert 81 while compressing springs 64. The insert 54 and frame 36 are thus thrust upwardly (FIG. 8) relative to frame 41, and the contact pins on connector part 21 are progressively thrust into the contact sockets on part 19 until they are fully engaged therein, as shown in PEG. 2. When the cams 5i? reach the position of FIG. 2 or a further advanced clockwise position, they are automatically stably held by friction against retrogr-ession and frame parts 29, 3d and ll are locked together against relative axial movement in the relation illustrated in PEG. 2.

When it is desired to separate the connector parts, as in the described missile-gantry crane combination, the connector part 1? is slid upwardly (FIG. 2) relative to part 2d, the latter part, except for frame 41 and its contents to the extent permitted by slots 24, being held from vertical movement by crane arm 13. Until the hooks 35 and the contact pins and sockets are disengaged, frame parts 29 and 39 remain fixed, the inner frame part 41 travelling relative to them. A short travel of part 19 causes the cross p ns 37 thereon to escape from the seats 36 on hooks 35. The compressed springs 64 then begin to expand, allowing frame parts 29, 36

6 and 41 together wit-h insert 4 2 and the contact pins to be projected away from insert 44 and connector parts 19. Such action continues until the contact pins have been withdrawn from insert 81 into the insert 44, at which time the connector parts 21 and 19 will have been fully disengaged from each other. Such total disengagement of the connector parts takes place at least slightly before the pins 25' have reached the upper ends of slots 24 (FIG. 2).

In wrtain of the claims appended hereto, frame parts 29, 3d, and 41 of the first connector part 21 are defined as forming parts of one frame. In others of the claims appended hereto, frame part 41 is defined as a first subframe, and frame parts 29 and 3d are defined as a second sub-frame, part 2,? being the outer part of the second sub-frame, and part 3% being the inner part of the second sub-frame.

Although only one embodiment of the invention has been illustarted in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing specification, it is to be expressly understood that various changes, such as in the relative dimensions of the parts, the materials used and the like, may he made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. It will be apparent that the separable connector of the invention, in the broader aspects thereof, is capable of use to advantage as a mechanical connector between two separable elements, without regard to the establishing and the breaking of electrical connections between such elements.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a first body, a second body, the two bodies being adapted to be connected in generally faceto-face relationship, and connector means to connect said first and second bodies against fortuitous separation, said connector means comprising at least one set of interfitting latch members on the respective bodies, one of said latch members having a seat which is open-sided in a first direction generally in the plane of the adjacent faces of said bodies and the other of said latch members being selec tively receivable in said scat, said latch members being adapted to be engaged with each other by sliding one body relative to the other body in a second direction generally opposite to said first direction and to be disengaged by sliding the one body relative to the other body generally in the first direction, and means for tightening engaging faces of the two bodies together and for tightening the engagement of the latch members, the tightenedtogether bodies being releasable for separation by simultaneously forcibly sliding said bodies in said first direction to disengage the latch members while said tightening means is still operative.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1, comprising resilient means which is overcome by the means for tightening the bodies together and adapted to separate said bodies when said latch members are disengaged.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2, comprising a pin on the first body, a socket on the second body adapted to receive the pin, the pin and the face of the first body confronting the second body being reciprocable relative to each other whereby the pin selectively projects outwardly beyond such face of the first body and is retracted therewithin, the pin being relatively retracted when the latch members are being engaged and being advanced thereafter into the socket further to connect the two bodies together, said resilient means being connected to the pin so as constantly to urge the pin toward relatively retracted position, said means for tightening the bodies together serving also to advance the pin from the first body and into the socket.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein the first body is generally in the form of an upstanding hollow frame, and one of said latch members is aflixed to said frame, and comprising a third body mounted within the frame for limited longitudinal reciprocation relative thereto parallel to said first and second directions, means easece 7 7 connecting the third body to the first body for guiding it during such reciprocation while connecting such two bodies to cause them to move together in a direction generally normal to the second body, said third body carrying the pin. 7

5. The combination set forth in claim 4 wherein the third body includes an upstanding hollow frame, and

comprising a transverse plate mounted within the last recited frame for reciprocation therewith, the pin extending through and being guided by said plate, the plate sheathing the pin when the plate is moved into its outermost position relative to the said last frame, the resilient means constantly acting to thrust the plate member outwardly of said last frame.

'6. The combination set forth in claim 5, wherein the frame of the first body has a main portion and a separate rim portion at the face thereof confronting the second body, the two frame portions being telescopically mounted relative to each other, and comprising a rotatable cam connected to the rim portion of the frame of the first body, said cam being adapted to thrust the third body whereby to tighten the first and second bodies together and to advance the pin on the first body into the socket on the second body.

7. The combination set forth in claim 3, wherein the V first and second bodies constitute separable electrical connector assemblies, wherein the pin and socket are electricaly conductive, and comprising electrically insulating supports for the pin and socket, said supports being mounted on the respective bodies.

8. The combination set forth in claim 7, wherein the first body is generally in the form of an upstanding hollow frame, and one of said latch members is affixed to said frame, and comprising a third body mounted within the frame forlimited transverse reciprocation relative thereto generally parallel to said first and second directions, means connecting the third body to the first body for guiding it during such reciprocation while connecting such two'bodies' to cause them to move together in a direction generally normal to the second body, said third body carrying the pin.

9. The combination set forth in claim 8, wherein the third body includes an upstanding hollow frame, and comprising a transverse plate mounted within the last recited frame for transverse reciprocation therewith, the pin extending through and being guided by said plate, the plate sheathing the pin when the plate is moved into its outermost position relative to the said last frame, the resilient means constantly acting to thrust the plate member out wardly of said last frame.

10. The combination set forth in claim 9, wherein the frame of the first body has a main portion and a separate rim portion at the face thereof confronting the second body, the two frame portions being telescopically mounted relative to each other, and comprising a rotatable cam connected to the rim portion of the frame of the first body, said cam being adapted to thrust the third body whereby to tighten the second and third bodies together and to advance the pin on the third body into the socket on the second body.

11. A separable electrical connector comprising a first connector part and a second connector part adapted to be placed in mating engagement with the first connector part, said first connector part carrying a pin contact and the second connector part carrying a socket contact adapted to receivethe 'pin contact by motion. of the first connector part relatively toward the second connector part along the axes of the pin and socket contacts when such axes are aligned, said first connector part comprising an elect'rically insulating insert mounting the pin contact, a frame disposed about the insert and connected thereto, the frame having. an outer end portion and an inner end portion, the inner end portion having telescopic relationship with the outer end portion of the frame, means mounting the said outer and inner end portions of the frame for limited reciprocable motion further toward or away from each other, means constantly urging the inner end portion outwardly of the outer end portion, latching means having mating members on the inner end portion and on the second connector part to hold them against separation in the direction of the axes of the pin and socket contacts, means for forcibly drawing the inner end portion into the outer end portion of the frame, the frame of the first connector part comprising a first inner subframe to which the insert is connected, a second subframe disposed about the first sub-frame, said second subframe comprising the said outer end portion and the said inner end portion, and means guidingly connecting the first sub-frame to the outer end portion of the second sub-frame to constrain such elements to limited transverse movement relative to each other in a direction generally normal to the axes of the pin and socket contacts, said latching means comprising at least one open-sided hook member on one of the connector parts and a cross member on the other connector part adapted to be engaged by the hook member, whereby the two connector parts may have the latching members engaged by relative movement of the first and second connector parts together in a generally transverse direction, and the pincontact may then be advanced into the socket contact, and whereby the two connector parts may be separated by an initial transverse movement of said second sub-frame relative to said second connector part and said first sub-frame to disengage the latching means, following which the first subframe and the pin contact are moved away from the second connector part in a direction parallel to the axes of the pin and socket contacts.

12. A separable electrical connector as defined in claim 11, wherein the latching means comprises at least one hook-like member on each side edge of the inner portion of the second subframe, each such member having a seat which is open in the same direction transversely of 14. A separable electrical connector as defined in a claim 11, wherein the first recited electrically insulating insert mounts the outer end of said pin contact, and comprising a second electrically insulating insert mounted in the inner end of the first subframe, the second insert having a passage therethrough receiving the forward end of the pin contact, means mounting the second insert for limited reciprocation in the first sub-frame from a first, extended position in which it projects outwardly from the first sub-frame and sheaths the contact pin to a second position in which it is retracted within the first sub-frame and has the free end of the contact pin projecting through and beyond such second insert, the exposed face of the second insert being adapted to overlie and contact the exposed face of the second connector part, and resilient means constantly urging the second insert toward its first,

extended position.

15. A separable electrical connector as defined in claim 14, comprising means forming a seal between the second insert and the first sub-frame, and means forming a seal between the second insert and the second connector part when the two connector parts are fully, matingly, engaged. 16. A separable electrical connector as defined in claim 15, wherein each hook-like member has a surface located adjacent the seat therein and adapted to be engaged by the cross pin on the second connector part when the two connector parts are in alignment, whereby to stop the two connector parts, during their assembly, in position to be fully engaged by movement of such parts toward each other.

17. A separable electrical connector as defined by claim 11, wherein the outer and inner portions of the second sub-frame are connected by elongated studs connected at one end to the inner portion of the second subframe, the outer portion of the second subframe guidingly receiving the intermediate portions of the studs therethrough, and wherein the means for advancing the pin and socket contacts toward each other comprises means acting between the studs and the outer portion of the second sub-frame to pull the studs outwardly with respect to the outer portion of the second sub-frame.

18. A separable electrical connector as defined by claim 17, wherein the means for advancing the pin and socket contacts toward each other comprises rotatable cam means acting between the outer ends of the studs and the outer portion of the second sub-frame to pull the studs outwardly with respect to the outer portion of the second sub-frame.

19. A separable electrical connector as defined by claim 18, comprising means connected to the outer ends of the studs on each side of the first connector part, each such means journalling a cam therein, said cams engaging the outer portion of the second sub-frame, and means connecting the cams to move in unison.

20. A separable electrical connector comprising a first connector part and a second connector part adapted to be placed in mating engagement with each other, said first connector part carrying a pin contact and the second connector part carrying a socket contact adapted to receive the pin contact by longitudinal motion of the first connector part relatively toward the second connector part along the axes of the pin and socket contacts when such axes are aligned, said first connector part comprising an electrically insulating insert mounting the pin contact, a frame disposed about the insert and connected thereto, the frame having an outer end portion and an inner end portion, the inner end portion having a telescopic relationship with the outer end portion of the frame, means mounting the said outer and inner end portions of the frame for limited longitudinal reciprocable motion further toward or away from each other, means constantly urging the inner end portion longitudinally away from the outer end portion, latching means having mating members on the inner end portion and the second connector part to hold them against longitudinal separation in the direction of the axes of the pin and socket contacts, one of said latch members having a seat which is open-sided in a first direction generally transverse to the connector part on which said latch member is mounted, the other of said latch members having a projection selectively receivable in the seat, and means for forcibly drawing the inner end portion of the frame into the outer end portion of the frame, said frame comprising a first inner sub-frame to which the insert is connected and a second sub-frame disposed about the first sub-frame and somewhat exceeding the first sub-frame in length, said second sub-frame comprising the said outer end portion and the said inner end portion, and means guidingly connecting the first sub-frame to the outer end portion of the second sub-frame to constrain such sub-frames to limited transverse movement relative to each other in a direction generally normal to the axes of the pin and socket contacts, whereby the two connector parts may have the latching members engaged by relative movement of the first and second connector parts in a first direction generally transversely of such parts, and whereby the two connector parts may be separated by an initial relative movement of the connector parts in a second direction, generally opposite to the first direction, to disengage the latching means, following which the first sub-frame and the pin contact are moved away from the second connector part in a direction parallel to the axes of the pin and socket contacts.

21. In an electrical connector a shell, a first electrically insulating insert fixedly mounted in said shell, an elongated contact extending through and supported by said insert, a second electrically insulating insert slidably mounted in said shell for limited longitudinal reciprocation in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said contact and having a passage through which the end portion of said contact extends, resilient means for urging said second insert toward a limiting position away from said first insert, the outer end portion of said contact being surrounded and shielded by said second insert when the latter is in said limiting position and projecting from said second insert when the latter is moved to a position adjacent said first insert in opposition to said resilient means, support means, and means connecting said shell to said support means for longitudinal movement therewith and limited transverse movement relative thereto.

22. An electrical connector as defined in claim 21 wherein said connecting means comprises cooperating projections and elongated slots on said shell and support means.

23. An electrical connector as defined in claim 21 wherein said support means comprises a first member connected to said shell by said connecting means, a second member, and means for connecting said first member to said second member for limited longitudinal movement relative thereto and transverse movement therewith.

24. An electrical connector as defined in claim 23 comprising resilient means for resisting relative longitudinal movement of said members in one direction.

25. An electrical connector as defined in claim 23 wherein said last-named connecting means comprises projections on one of said members slidably received by the other of said members.

26. An electrical connector as defined in claim 23 wherein said first and second members are hollow frame members mounted in telescopic relation to each other.

27. An electrical connector as defined in claim 23 comprising actuating means for imparting longitudinal movement to said first member and shell relative to said second member.

28. An electrical connector as defined in. claim 27 comprising means for holding said second member against longitudinal movement during operation of said actuating means, whereby said first insert and contact are advanced by said actuating means in the direction of said second insert.

29. An electrical connector as defined in claim 23 comprising a shell member, a third electrically insulating insert in said shell member in face-to-face relation with said second insert, and an elongated contact member carried by said third insert and adapted to mate with said elongated contact.

30. An electrical connector as defined in claim 29 comprising mating guide pins and sockets mounted in said second and third inserts.

31. An electrical connector as defined in claim 30 wherein said guide pins are mounted on and project from the face of said second insert.

32. An electrical connector as defined in claim 29 comprising coupling means for connecting said shell member and said second member to hold the same against longitudinal separation while permitting relative transverse movement thereof.

33. An electrical connector as defined in claim 32 comprising actuating means mounted on said support means for advancing and holding said first insert in opposition to said resilient means to move said contact into mating engagement with said contact member and to press said second insert into compressive engagement with said third insert while said coupling means are engaged.

34. An electrical connector as defined in claim 33 wherein said coupling means are disengageable by simultaneous transverse movement of said shell and shell member relative to said support means while said actuating means is operative, whereupon said resilient means are 1 1 1 2 rendered operative to disengage said contact from said 2,724,093 11/55 Preston 3399'I:X contact member andto retract said contact into said. 2,844,672 7/58 Sambonet 339--46X second insert. 2,977,682 4/ 61 Grimes ct a1 339-45 X r 2,986,613 5/61 Figureira' ZOQ -Sl References Gited by the Examiner 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS I N PATENTS 1,394,057 10/21 Woernley 339-42 1188558 3/59 France- 5233313 3??? iiiiy' t itjjjjijiji333:3; IOSEPHYDeEERSQPrimW 6/55 Dupree. ct a1 339-45 10 FREDERICH M. STRADER, Examiner. 

21. IN AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR A SHELL, A FIRST ELECTRICALLY INSULATING INSERT FIXEDLY MOUNTED IN SAID SHELL, AN ELONGATED CONTACT EXTENDING THROUGH AND SUPPORTED BY SAID INSERT, A SECOND ELECTRICALLY INSULATING INSERT SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID SHELL FOR LIMITED LONGITUDINAL RECIPROCATION IN THE DIRECTION OF THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID CONTACT AND HAVING A PASSAGE THROUGH WHICH THE END PORTION OF SAID CONTACT EXTENDS, RESILIENT MEANS FOR URGING SAID SECOND INSERT TOWARD A LIMITING POSITION AWAY FROM SAID FIRST INSERT, THE OUTER END PORTION OF SAID CONTACT BEING SURROUNDED AND SHIELDED BY SAID SECOND INSERT WHEN THE LATTER IS IN SAID LIMITING POSITION AND PROJECTING FROM SAID SECOND INSERT WHEN THE LATTER IS MOVED TO A POSITION ADJACENT SAID FIRST INSERT IN OPPOSITION TO SAID RESILIENT MEANS, SUPPORT MEANS, AND MEANS CONNECTING SAID SHELL TO SAID SUPPORT MEANS FOR LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT THEREWITH AND LIMITED TRANSVERSE MOVEMENT RELATIVE THERETO. 